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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
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    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography
  • 34432605282_08cd083368_z.jpg
    Sabadon / Leaves Eyes / Battle Beast - Regency Ballroom - Photos Courtesy of Louis Raphael Photography

SF Concert Reviews: Sabaton and Its Clan of Vikings Slay Their Way Through San Francisco

in Photos/SF Concert Reviews by

Sabaton and the rest of their Viking warriors slayed their way through San Francisco last night, by playing to a sold-out crowd at the Regency Ballroom. It was hot, sweaty, brutal, but most of all epic in its execution.

After enduring a long wait to get into the venue (the lines were around the block) fans were welcomed with a blistering performance by Leaves Eyes. Their performance was one for the ages and included some stunning operatic vocals by Elina Siirala and ferocious Viking growls from her co-star for the night, Alexander Krull. The dichotomy between the two vocal styles proved to be both angelic and brutal at the same time yet worked very well overlayed on the thunderous drums and vicious riffs that were emanating from the rest of the band.

Fans were lined up around the block at The Regency Ballroom last night, to welcome their heroes, Sabaton.

After a 30 minute performance, which included a 20 person mosh pit, Battle Beast took to the stage. They were promoting their latest offering “Bringer of Pain,” and ended up playing a good chunk of the album. Their singer Noora Louhima was on point and has some of the best metal vocals out there. She’d definitely give Rob Halford a run for his money when it comes to hitting those higher register screeches. The rest of the band played flawlessly a genre that requires a level of instrument prowess that very few today possess.

Once the band finished their set, and the crowd had a chance to compose itself, the headliner’s set began to come together. After a few grenade boxes and toy machine guns taped to mic stands arrived on the stage, a thunderous rally of “Sabaton, SabATON, SABATON!” could be heard progressively getting louder and louder. At its crescendo, the Swedish war machine took to the stage and began what was to be over an 1 1/2 hours of high energy power metal. They cranked out fan favorites like “Blood of Bannockburn,” “Carolus Rex” and “Primo Victoria,” before closing out the evening that left the crowd tired and beat up, yet grateful for having come out victorious. What a bloody battle that was.

Having released albums under Digital Nations, a label founded by Steve Vai, music critic Louis Raphael has remained deeply connected to the pulse of the San Francisco music scene. Following his tenure as the San Francisco Music Examiner for Examiner.com and AXS.com, he embarked on creating Music in SF® to authentically highlight the vibrant offerings of the city's music scene.

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